Disney On Ice to enchant

2017-01-30 | John Rieping

Radiator Springs, Arendelle and more will collide with Fresno when a quartet of Disney animated films come to life Thursday through Feb. 6 at Selland Arena as Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment.

The enchanting worlds will be those of “Toy Story,” “Cars,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Frozen.”
“Its a really fun show,” said ensemble skater Rebecca Neudorfer, of Pasadena. “There’s lots of lights and explosions when the cars come out. There’s a lot of bubbles with the Little Mermaid. I love every single song that is played. They’ll definitely leave with a big smile on their face.”

During the spectacle, Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Pixar’s “Cars” will race across the ice in high-speed stunts, mermaid Ariel will explore her undersea realm, toys Buzz, Woody, Jessie and more will escape Sunnyside Daycare, and sisters Anna and Elsa with friends Olaf and Kristoff will learn about true love.

As a little girl, Neudorfer wouldn’t have seemed a likely candidate to someday represent Disney. “When I was little, I was the child who would cling to my mother’s leg, crying and screaming in terror when Mickey (Mouse) came up to me,” she said.

But such a common reaction wouldn’t be the whole story for Neudorfer. “Disney means to me pure fun and joy,” she said. “Because so many kids know Disney, the youthfulness of it is just fun.”
She lights up when she sees people smile as she skates, she said, and strives to inspire “young girls and boys to either be skaters and perform, or just do what they love the most.”

Performances will be 7 p.m. Thursday through Feb. 4 and on Feb. 6, as well as 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Feb. 4-5, at Selland Arena, 700 M St. Attendees may come dressed as favorite characters if they wish or even arrive early to learn exclusive dance moves from Mickey’s Dance-Along Pre-Show.

General ticket prices range from $18 to $68, but opening night tickets can be purchased for as low as $14. Tickets for those ages 2-12 can be bought for $15 for 7 p.m. shows Friday and Feb. 6 plus 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. shows Feb. 5.